About the School

Mission

At James Wood High School, all staff work together to provide a safe, supportive environment that enables students to be self-directed, lifelong learners. Our instruction enables all students to meet and exceed curricular expectations, state mandates, and individual goals. We provide diverse learning opportunities, which include intervention, remediation, and enrichment.

The 4 Colonel C's

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Communication

Collaboration

Creativity and Innovation

We exist to Cultivate Excellence, and all of our initiatives focus on active student engagement.

History

James Wood High School, established in 1950, was the only high school that served Frederick County at that time. However, prior to 1950 the county supported 5 smaller high schools located in rural communities throughout the area. Those smaller high schools were named after the communities where they were located. The names of the schools were: Stephens City, Middletown, Stonewall, Gore and Gainesboro. Even though these high schools no longer exist, the communities continue to grow and provide a fond reminder of where we have been and where we are today.

Looking further back into our past, James Wood High School was named in honor of Colonel James Wood, founder of the town of Winchester and Colonel of the Virginia Continental Militia. In addition, Colonel Wood was the first clerk of the court for Frederick County and a fellow surveyor and friend of George Washington. Located on Amherst Street today one can find the original home site of Colonel Wood, known as Glen Burnie.

These small samples of historical facts provide us some insight on how we have evolved as a school and the principles upon which we were built. It is through these facts we can build a sense of pride and interest for James Wood High School and how this learning institution has served our community for the past 56 years.